Ellerslie Flower Show Goes Global

Media release
October 31 2005

Ellerslie Flower Show Goes Global

A multi-award winning tropical South African paradise will be transported to New Zealand next month for Ellerslie Flower Show 2005.

The spectacular ‘Afrikan Dream’ is set to be the Show’s major international drawcard, wowing visitors with its mystical mix of iconic African bushveld and striking modern garden design.

The garden’s creators, David Davidson and Raymond Hudson, are true veterans of reputedly the largest and most elite garden event in the world – London’s Chelsea Flower Show.

Having appeared at the extravagant Chelsea Flower Show for 30 years, the pair have scooped an impressive 27 Gold Awards.

The attention-grabbing Afrikan Dream has attracted admiration and comment from some of Chelsea’s most high profile visitors, including Princess Anne, Rod Stewart and Ringo Starr!

Currently exhibiting at Cape Town Flower Show, the South African team from Kirstenbosch say their display is a departure from the more naturalistic displays of previous years at Chelsea and that they will be creating a modern exhibit to showcase beautiful indigenous plants in all their glory.

“We are delighted to be coming to New Zealand,” says designer David Davidson. “Ellerslie Flower Show is one of the great flower shows internationally and is therefore a major project for us.”

At the centre of the exhibit will stand a remarkable three-metre elevated sun deck, created from carved wood and woven copper embellishments, from which water will cascade through a copper water feature that resembles the indigenous South African waterlily.
The surrounding garden features striking architecturally shaped indigenous plants such as Strelitzias, Aloes, Cycads, Grasses, Succulents and Proteas – South Africa’s national flower.

Pete Cox, Ellerslie Flower Show General Manager, says having Afrikan Dream at the Show is a major boost for Ellerslie Flower Show, which is aiming to increase its international presence every year.

“We’re really excited to announce the news about the Afrikan Dream garden. We’re systematically building the Show's links and reciprocal relationships with major flower shows and top designers around the world,” he says. “The aim is firstly to provide elite benchmarks to our New Zealand design and horticultural industries but also to inspire more tourists to visit our shores and experience first hand the landscapes they see immortalised in the Show Gardens and exhibits”.

South Africa is the only country in the world that has within its borders an entire plant kingdom, the Cape Floristic Kingdom, made up of 8,600 species, 68% of them endemic. The Cape Peninsula alone has more species of flora than the whole of Great Britain.

Ellerslie Flower Show 2005 promises to be Like Never Before, with innovation, inspiration and floral delights to warm even the coldest gardening heart! The Show will spring into bloom from 16-20 November, when the Auckland Botanic Gardens will be transformed into a blaze of colour. Tickets can be purchased at Foodtown stores nationwide or from any Ticketek outlet, by contacting 09 307 5000 (or your local Ticketek number) or via the website www.ticketek.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media